A RETIRED prison officer and a former Greenock church elder are still as good as gold after 50 years of marriage.

East end couple Jack and Joan Taylor will tomorrow celebrate their golden wedding anniversary following colourful work and voluntary careers.

They tied the knot in Mrs Taylor's hometown of Kirkintilloch on March 21, 1969, in St David's and St Andrew's Church.

Mr Taylor, originally from Bonnyrigg, met his future wife while the pair were working as telephonists for the General Post Office in Glasgow.

They arrived in Greenock when Mr Taylor, now 81, got a job working at Gateside Prison - and have lived in the east end of the town ever since.

Mrs Taylor, 77, worked for William Low's locally, which then became Tesco, but is best known for helping hundreds of bereaved Inverclyde families with the funerals of their loved ones through her role as an elder at Cartsdyke Church before it became Greenock East End Church.

Together, they have two grown-up sons, Jonathan and Ewan, and two grandsons, although one sadly passed away at just over a year old.

They say a lasting friendship has been key to their long and happy marriage.

Mr Taylor said: "It's gone well. "We've never really fallen out."

Mrs Taylor said: "It's a very special occasion.

"My mother never thought we would get to fifty years, I don't know why!

"I had a brother but when my dad died it was Jack she asked to do most things. "She got on very well with him."

During his career, Mr Taylor also served in Barlinnie, Edinburgh and Dumfries prisons, as well as Polmont young offenders' institution.

Like his wife, he latterly worked in Tesco as a security guard.

Arguably it was in 'retirement' when the couple were most active, particularly with Mrs Taylor's association with Greenock East End Church, alongside Revered David McCarthy and Irene Manson.

Mr Taylor said: "She was busier in retirement than she was when she was working.

"Latterly, she was doing funerals to the extent of forty and fifty a year.

"She was exceptionally good at that." Mr Taylor was also a long-time charity volunteer with the likes of Starter Packs and he continues to help out with the Gibshill Sunshine Club every Tuesday night.

The couple have been on mercy missions to places such as Romania and Zambia, carried out charity work in Belfast and were even rewarded with a two-week holiday to Alaska by a member of their local congregation in honour of their tireless community service.

Mrs Taylor said: "This word 'retirement', it's very misleading!"